MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson said an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) called up one lawmaker to make early insertions in the proposed national budget for 2026.
The senator on Sunday said a caller claiming to be "Undersecretary Cabral" from DPWH called up a staff member of Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III shortly after the May 2025 senatorial elections.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
"One 'Undersecretary Cabral' called Sotto's staff and told them to insert what they wanted to insert [in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026]," Lacson said in a radio interview.
"If Sen. Sotto was one of those called by that executive, who else could have been contacted similarly and submitted their proposed insertions?" he said in Filipino.
DPWH exec asked lawmaker to make budget insertions — Lacson
"Senator Sotto told me he did not submit anything because we are advocating transparency and good governance. The question now is, how many members of the House and Senate made insertions?" Lacson added., This news data comes from:http://ih.705-888.com
- Vico Sotto could challenge VP Sara in 2028 race – survey
- Malabon City honors partners
- Japan PM Ishiba bounces back in polls after election debacle
- Marcos to create independent commission to investigate flood control anomalies
- Earthquake kills 250, injures 500 in Afghanistan
- Magnitude 5.1 earthquake rattles Surigao del Sur
- Zelenskyy seeks talks with Trump and European leaders on slow progress of peace efforts with Russia
- Earthquake in eastern Afghanistan kills at least 610 people and injures 1,300
- PH economic losses hit 100B from corruption in flood control projects
- ‘New NBI chief must be career official’
